How similar would you say Ren and Stimpy and Rocko's Modern Life are to SpongeBob?

[DenMaker]

Ren and Stimpy was an influence on Hillenburg and if Rocko never existed, SpongeBob wouldn't either because Hillenburg worked on Rocko previously and while on Rocko, was encouraged to do a TV show of his own. Would you call SpongeBob a spiritual successor to both shows?

 

[SpongeBobfan1987]

I'd say SpongeBob SquarePants feels more like a spiritual successor to Rocko's Modern Life with a few minor The Ren & Stimpy Show influences. Unlike both Rocko and Ren & Stimpy, SpongeBob SquarePants is lighter on the toilet humor in most episodes.

Much of the early concept art in Stephen Hillenburg's pitch bible for SpongeBob SquarePants has that mid-1990s Rocko art style to it, with SpongeBob's jellyfish-hunting glasses resembling the eyeglasses that Filburt wore in Rocko.

 

[ScumBob]

from the beginning SpongeBob has had clear influences of both, and it makes sense when you look at the crew that formed it, but it's not a rip-off. it is a relative of those shows but it is unique in spite of that, not a carbon copy. it's what Spongebob has that many 90s-00s R&S rip offs fail at in my opinion, the inspiration is there but it wasn't trying to be "the next ren and stimpy" like Shnookums and Meat was